provoke amusement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provoke amusement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that causes laughter or enjoyment in others. Example: "The comedian's clever jokes always manage to provoke amusement among the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

After that defeat, Younis Khan provoked amusement, even a little ridicule, by saying that Twenty20 was "just good entertainment".

The Guardian - Sport

Today, Frank Capra's Why We Fight, the liberal rebuttal to Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will, provokes amusement and scorn with contemporary liberals.

Huffington Post

I'm reminded of Montreal artists Chloe Lum and Yannick Desranleau's (a.k.a. Seripop) vibrantly saturated garbage art, meant to provoke both amusement and radicalism in the most welcoming and open-ended way.

Vice

Mentioning it now provokes gentle amusement.

The Guardian - Sport

'Do we have to eat all these brussels sprouts?'" This provokes genuine amusement in our comics.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When they entered a song in English at this year's Eurovision song contest, it provoked wry amusement abroad, but indifference at home.

The Economist

It provoked great amusement the next day, when everyone read in Horyn's review that Adrover had taken the ticking off a mattress owned by his neighbor, the late Quentin Crisp.

The New Yorker

Danny Drinkwater provoked much amusement among the British press corps last month, when he revealed the manager's technique of saying "dilly-ding, dilly-dong" to restore focus whenever energy levels start to dip during training.

The Guardian - Sport

The change provoked much amusement, and it became one of the most popular scenes of the show.

Wikipedia

"Senator Sanders had to play ball with a political machine and in many ways chose a noble path, considering he could have easily torn down this machine at the convention," emailed H.A. Goodman, a widely read pro-Sanders blogger whose takes on the senator's electoral inevitability went viral and, in some quarters, provoked genuine amusement.

Huffington Post

These are very ironic images, no doubt intended to provoke thought or amusement, but they do exhibit a lot of sympathy for the satyrs".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "provoke amusement", consider your audience and the context to ensure the humor is well-received and doesn't offend.

Common error

Avoid using "provoke amusement" in formal or serious contexts where humor is inappropriate, as it can undermine the intended message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provoke amusement" primarily functions as a verb phrase where 'provoke' is the verb indicating the action of causing something and 'amusement' is the noun representing the thing being caused. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "provoke amusement" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe the act of causing laughter or enjoyment. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. Its frequency across various sources, particularly in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, indicates its widespread use. While alternatives such as "elicit amusement" or "spark amusement" exist, "provoke amusement" remains a direct and effective way to convey the intention or result of creating humor. When using the phrase, consider your audience and context to ensure the intended humor is well-received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elicit amusement

Focuses on drawing out amusement, differing slightly from actively provoking it.

spark amusement

Highlights the initiation of amusement, suggesting a sudden or immediate reaction.

generate amusement

Emphasizes the creation of amusement, implying a more deliberate or sustained effect.

inspire amusement

Suggests a more indirect influence leading to amusement, rather than a direct provocation.

occasion amusement

Indicates that something provides an opportunity for amusement, but doesn't necessarily guarantee it.

create laughter

Switches the focus to laughter, a direct manifestation of amusement, rather than the feeling itself.

induce laughter

Similar to "create laughter" but implies a more active and intentional effort.

arouse laughter

Highlights the stirring up of laughter, suggesting a more intense or animated reaction.

prompt laughter

Focuses on directly causing laughter, similar to "provoke", but with a slightly gentler connotation.

stir up amusement

Emphasizes the stirring or awakening of amusement, implying a previously dormant feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "provoke amusement" in a sentence?

You can use "provoke amusement" to describe actions or events that cause laughter or enjoyment, such as "The comedian's routine aimed to "provoke amusement" among the audience."

What are some alternatives to "provoke amusement"?

Some alternatives to "provoke amusement" include "elicit amusement", "spark amusement", or "generate amusement depending" on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "provoke amusement" in formal writing?

While "provoke amusement" is grammatically correct, it may be more suitable for informal or creative writing. In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "elicit interest" or "generate positive feedback".

What is the difference between "provoke amusement" and "provoke laughter"?

"Provoke amusement" refers to causing a general feeling of enjoyment or lightheartedness, whereas "provoke laughter" specifically refers to causing someone to laugh. Laughter is a direct and audible manifestation of amusement.